# Circadian Rhythm as a Novel Therapeutic Target in the Intensive Care Unit

> **NIH NIH K23** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $46,368

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Candidate: My long-term career goal is to be an independent patient-oriented researcher who will improve
outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU) by investigating questions and developing interventions at the
intersection of sleep physiology, circadian biology, and critical illness. My K23-related career development
activities will prepare me to successfully conduct a series of investigations focused on understanding ICU
circadian rhythm abnormalities and the associated effects on ICU sleep disruption, delirium, and broader critical
illness outcomes. I have relevant clinical training in critical care and sleep medicine. I have gained patient-
oriented research experience by conducting several studies related to sleep disruption in the ICU. My K23 award
includes career development training in circadian biology with a focus on (1) circadian rhythm measurement, (2)
circadian entrainment interventions, and (3) longitudinal data analysis. Completion of these training activities will
bridge knowledge gaps and set up future success as an independent investigator.
 Mentors and Environment: I am mentored by Drs. Henry Klar Yaggi, Margaret Pisani, and Nancy Redeker,
a team of experienced, committed experts in the fields of sleep medicine, critical care medicine, circadian
measurement, ICU delirium, and patient-oriented research. This team has demonstrated collaborative success,
and each member brings unique expertise. I also work with advisors Dr. Kenneth Wright (circadian biology
expert) and Dr. Terrence Murphy (analytics expert). My department Chairperson (Dr. Gary Desir) and Section
Chief (Dr. Naftali Kaminski) have provided assurance that I will continue to dedicate at least 75% of my time to
career development activities. We will recruit study subjects from the Yale-New Haven Hospital Medical ICU
which is a high-volume ICU with sufficient patients to make this project feasible. Our section's Translational
Research Core will support this project.
 Mentored Research Project: Delirium affects 50-80% of medical ICU patients. Prevention and treatment
strategies are limited, and delirium is associated with poor outcomes including increased mortality. Because ICU
sleep disruption is likely to be a contributor to the development of ICU delirium, sleep promotion is recommended
for delirium treatment and prevention. Currently, there is a lack of investigation regarding the potentially
significant contribution of circadian abnormalities to the problem of ICU sleep disruption and consequent delirium.
Circadian abnormalities are potentially modifiable, and thus constitute a novel therapeutic target for ICU delirium.
This project will prospectively study ICU patients with detailed circadian measures. We will examine the impact
of ICU light levels on circadian abnormalities and examine the association between circadian abnormalities and
days of delirium. In addition, we will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial to assess the feasibility of
p...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10438282
- **Project number:** 3K23HL138229-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** MELISSA P KNAUERT
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $46,368
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-04-09 → 2022-03-09

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10438282

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10438282, Circadian Rhythm as a Novel Therapeutic Target in the Intensive Care Unit (3K23HL138229-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10438282. Licensed CC0.

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